Westview schools revisiting transfer policy

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December 16, 2013 - 1:11pm

In order to be in line with state law, the Westview School District is looking at its non-resident student policy, the school board was told Thursday evening.

“If we are going to continue to accept non-resident students, we’ll have to redraft our policy,” Superintendent Randy Zimmerly told the board. “If we accept non-resident students, we must accept all of them unless we don’t have the capacity. That is the only option.”

Under state law, the district can set a limit on capacity, by grade, as the only limiting factor in accepting transfer students. The district could estimate its capacity per grade in the spring, Zimmerly the board, and consider a June 30 deadline for applications. “Then, we will have a lottery if there are more applications than openings during the July meeting,” he added.

Otherwise, the school will consider additional students until all slots are filled or until just after Labor Day.

Transfer students would still need to provide their own transportation. However, Zimmerly said, they are awaiting clarification on students with disabilities. Right now, the thought is those transfer students needing special transportation would need to get their own transportation to the school district’s boundaries.

The district currently has 105 non-resident students, spread throughout all grades. Zimmerly noted that last year, 37 non-resident students were children of staff members.

In other business:

The board heard a recommendation for the new parking area at Topeka Elementary School. The district bought a lot just north of the school and is planning to add parking spaces and sidewalks. Overall, the proposed plan would add 22 parking spots and an additional 11 spots in the current parking area.

The engineer is to meet with the Topeka principal to go over the plan and look at traffic flow and foot traffic concerns.

The district could advertise for bids on the project in February or March, with construction planned for the summer break.

The engineer’s estimated cost was $202,000. The district has budgeted $204,000 for the project.

The board was told that the district locked in its fuel for the next nine months at $3.336 through North Central Co-Op.

A question on a claim from November was discussed as it was noted that a claim for bowling for the junior high school PE class came from fees collected as part of the textbook rental for that class.